Monday, December 20 2004 14:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time

New Delhi: India ranks first in milk production in the world, Lok Sabha was informed today (Dec 20, 2004).

In reply to a question, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said the milk production in the country has been assessed at 88.1 million tonnes during 2003-04.

India's share in total world export of milk and milk products is about 0.24 per cent.

Bihar, Goa, Chattisgarh and Jharkhand apart from the North-Eastern States are particularly deficient in milk production at present as in these states the per capita production of milk is less than half the national average, Pawar said.

An increase of about 14 per cent in foreign tourist arrivals to India was witnessed in 2003 over 2002, Tourism Minister Renuka Chowdhury said. During 2004 (January-November) also, a growth of about 24 per cent has been estimated over the same period last year, she said.

About 5.35 million tourists travelled abroad during 2003 against 4.94 million during 2002, the Minister said.